Singular & Plural Nouns
Make nouns plural: the -s rule, spelling patterns (-es, -ies, -ves), and irregular plurals like children and people. Beginner grammar with 20 questions.
A plural means “more than one.” One book, two books. One student, many students. In English, we usually add -s, but there are a few important spelling patterns and some special words to learn.
The basic rule: add -s
For most nouns, just add -s.
| One (singular) | More than one (plural) |
|---|---|
| book | books |
| student | students |
| tutor | tutors |
| lesson | lessons |
Spelling patterns
| If the word ends in… | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x | add -es | class → classes, box → boxes, watch → watches |
| consonant + y | change y to -ies | city → cities, country → countries |
| vowel + y | just add -s | day → days, key → keys |
| -f or -fe | change to -ves | knife → knives, leaf → leaves |
Watch the -y ruleLook at the letter before the y. “city” has a consonant (t) before y → cities. “day” has a vowel (a) before y → days.
Irregular plurals (no -s!)
Some very common words change completely. You must learn these by heart.
| One | More than one |
|---|---|
| man | men |
| woman | women |
| child | children |
| person | people |
| foot | feet |
| tooth | teeth |
- There is one child in the room. There are three children in the garden.
- Omar knows many people in Kuala Lumpur.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersArabic often forms plurals by changing the inside of the word (“broken plurals”), so it feels natural to expect big changes. English is usually simpler — most words just take -s. Save your memory for the few true irregulars (men, women, children, people) and add -s to the rest.
Common mistakes
- three childs → three children
- two citys → two cities
- many persons → many people
Practise plurals with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1.Plural of "book":
Most nouns just add -s: books.
2.Plural of "class":
Ends in -ss, add -es: classes.
3.Plural of "box":
Ends in -x, add -es: boxes.
4.Plural of "watch":
Ends in -ch, add -es: watches.
5.Plural of "city":
Consonant + y → ies: cities.
6.Plural of "country":
Consonant + y → ies: countries.
7.Plural of "day":
Vowel + y, just add -s: days.
8.Plural of "key":
Vowel + y, just add -s: keys.
9.Plural of "knife":
-fe → ves: knives.
10.Plural of "leaf":
-f → ves: leaves.
11.Plural of "man":
Irregular: man → men.
12.Plural of "woman":
Irregular: woman → women.
13.Plural of "child":
Irregular: child → children.
14.Plural of "person":
Irregular: person → people.
15.Plural of "foot":
Irregular: foot → feet.
16.Plural of "tooth":
Irregular: tooth → teeth.
17.Which is correct?
child → children.
18.Which is correct?
city → cities.
19.Which is correct?
Use "people" as the plural of person.
20."Aisha brushes her ___ every morning."
More than one tooth = teeth.
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